The festive season is all about heading home, meeting family, eating your favourite mithai and celebrating Diwali together. But before the festivities begin, there’s one thing that can test everyone’s patience: finding a confirmed train ticket. With demand shooting up around Diwali and Chhath Puja, Indian Railways is adding extra services to help passengers get to their hometowns without the usual train ticket-booking stress. Scroll on to know more about this.
Indian Railways Announces Diwali Special Trains, Extra Berths
According to The Indian Express, Indian Railways had notified 8,454 special train trips as of October 13, with around 3.4 lakh regular train trips planned between October 1 and November 30, 2026. The additional services are intended to manage the festive rush during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja. And there’s more good news for those travelling to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other popular destinations, with a fresh Vande Bharat service and additional berths on select special trains also in the picture.
8,000+ Special Train Trips To Accommodate Festive Rush
If you’re hoping to travel home for the festivities, there’s a little more room to plan your journey this year. According to The Indian Express, Indian Railways has planned 3.4 lakh regular train trips during the two-month festive period, compared with 3.3 lakh last year. It had also notified 8,454 special train trips by October 13 to accommodate the increased passenger demand.
Uttar Pradesh is set to have more than 37,000 regular service trips, followed by Bihar with over 31,000 and West Bengal with more than 27,000. Among the states with the highest number of notified special train trips, Bihar leads with 2,057, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 1,056, Delhi with 975, Maharashtra with 836 and West Bengal with 464.
The Railways has also increased capacity on existing services by adding 412 coaches compared with the previous year, including 75 General Class coaches. More special services may be announced depending on passenger demand and operational requirements.
Also Read: Diwali Festive Stays: Room Rates Rise 17% To ₹8,500 A Night
Delhi-Patna Vande Bharat Special Train: Route, Timings And Fare
For those travelling between Delhi and Bihar, Indian Railways has announced a 16-coach Vande Bharat Festival Special between New Delhi and Patna. As reported by NDTV, the service is designed to ease the festive rush, particularly on routes where regular trains are seeing heavy demand and long waiting lists.
The train will cover the distance in approximately 12 hours and 55 minutes, offering a faster option for passengers heading home for Diwali and Chhath Puja.
Here’s a quick look at the schedule and fare details.
New Delhi to Patna — Train No. 02252
- Departure: New Delhi at 8:35 AM
- Arrival: Patna Junction at 9:30 PM
- Route and stops: Aligarh, Kanpur Central, Prayagraj, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar and Ara
- Fare: ₹2,615 for AC Chair Car and ₹4,695 for Executive Chair Car
The train will run for the first time on October 16, 2026, and will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from October 21 to November 25.
Patna to New Delhi — Train No. 02251
- Departure: Patna Junction at 10 AM
- Arrival: New Delhi at 11:30 PM
- Route and stops: Ara, Buxar, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Prayagraj, Kanpur Central and Aligarh
The return service will run on October 17 and 19, followed by departures every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from October 22 to November 26.
Also Read: Diwali Travel: Guwahati Sees 386%, Jaipur 306% And Patna 271% Increase In Flight Bookings
Over 23,000 Berths Available On Select Diwali Special Trains
Still looking for a seat to get home? There may be another option worth checking. According to News18, more than 23,000 berths were available on select special trains for October and November, based on information from South Central Railway.
The additional availability could be useful for passengers planning their Diwali journeys, particularly those who haven’t managed to secure a confirmed berth on regular services. However, availability can change quickly during the festive season, so it’s best to check the latest status for your preferred route and travel date before making plans.
Rather than relying solely on your usual train, check the special services operating from nearby stations as well. You may find an alternative departure that works better for your schedule.
After all, Diwali travel is stressful enough without having to worry about whether you’ll make it home on time. If you’re planning to travel this festive season, it’s worth checking the special train options now rather than leaving it until the last minute.
Also Read: Smaller Portions & Costlier Dishes At Restaurants Post Diwali? How Dining Out In India May Change!
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons (representative image)
FAQs
How many special train trips has Indian Railways announced for Diwali 2026?
Indian Railways had notified 8,454 special train trips as of October 13, 2026, to manage the festive rush during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja.